Sherlock hurried home after school on Monday. Bonds-companion hadn't responded to his message. He supposed he didn't want to let that out to everyone else, but they were idiots if they didn't see it themselves. He was antsy and wouldn't answer any of Molly's questions. He ignored the rest of the students as well. The only other two people who spoke to him were Sally and Phillip and Sherlock wanted nothing to do with them, especially since they only made rude comments probably because Sherlock let it be known that Phillip was cheating on Sally. Again, it was obvious. Someone might have thought Sally should be appreciative of Sherlock's interference, but apparently it was Sherlock's fault she was dating an idiot.
Sherlock finally made it home and dropped his bag at the door as per usual before hurrying up the stairs, he told himself it was absolutely not running. He turned on his laptop cursing at it for being slow before finally he logged in and looked at the blog that filled his mind most of the time. He growled and shoved his computer away when he saw there was no answer. He calmed himself with the sight that there were no other posts from him either, so he wasn't avoiding him.
The calm lasted all of a minute before Sherlock began worrying about bonds-companion. He'd been abused the night before. He had posted, but now he wasn't. Was he hurt more than he thought? Did he have to go to emergency? He shook his head to clear it of such worries, telling himself he didn't care anyway, before promptly sending another ask.
Anonymous:
I understand that you obviously didn't want to talk about it. And I apologize if I was brusque. But you really should find the decency within you to at least let people out there, who may or may not care about, know that you're alright after what happened yesterday.
He sighed and tugged gently at his hair as he went back to his routine of refreshing bonds-companion's blog. It lasted approximately an hour before Sherlock cried out in frustration when he got the error page after he refreshed telling him that he didn't have internet. He turned around just in time to watch the door open to show his brother standing there in his ridiculous suit. Sherlock practically snarled at him. "What do you want? You know I can connect the internet again in less than five minutes."
Mycroft gave a condescending smile. "I locked it." He said simply, brushing out a crease in his suit. Sherlock stared at him, raising an eyebrow "And?" He asked like that meant nothing to him. "It would take you at least ten minutes to unlock it." Mycroft said calmly. "And you're well aware how easy it is to disconnect it again." He sounded almost bored, even looked bored.
Sherlock ground his teeth to keep from insulting the fat lard. "I repeat. What. Do. You. Want?" He ground out, staring at him intensely. Mycroft shrugged lightly. "I'd have thought you'd be aware. You insulted a professor, received detention after school and yet…" He gave him a half-hearted attempt at a confused gaze before glancing at his watch dramatically. "You're home early." He looked back up at Sherlock, with a raised eyebrow, asking for an explanation.
Sherlock huffed. "Said professor was being an idiot and taking too long to explain simple notions. And I had more important things to do than stay at that school for longer than absolutely necessary." He crossed his arms, still sitting and glaring at his brother.
Mycroft nodded as if none of it was new to him. "It is interesting, dear brother, usually you stay as long as you can at school. I wonder what could have changed." He said, eyes glancing over to Sherlock's computer. Sherlock closed it quickly, though it was still on the error page. He glared at him. "What do you really want? You're not my father, Mycroft. Nor does father or mother for that matter, care what I do. Go. Away. And put the wifi back on." He snapped.
Mycroft let out a scoff. "I'm rather aware I'm not father. I'm rather proud of that fact actually. And I just wanted to talk. Just because our parents abandon your schooling and care doesn't mean I have." Sherlock ground his teeth harder. "Shut. Up. Mycroft. You don't care. You've never cared. You don't get to tell me what to do, or talk to me just because you feel like it. Besides. I'm doing fine in school. Better than fine. All I have to do is show up to tests and I pass the stupid classes. Now. GET OUT!" He yelled the last bit, getting irritated and wanting nothing to do with Mycroft.
Mycroft shook his head slowly as if sorry for what he was about to say. "Fine, Sherlock. I'll go, since you don't want to discuss your new hobby. I'm not, however, going to put the wifi back on until you finish your homework. For the full week. And I expect you to stay after tomorrow to fulfill your detention. Clear?" He said, not waiting for an answer before leaving. Sherlock snarled after him before getting up angrily, flinging his chair aside as he did so. He threw himself face down on the bed, and stayed there for a long while before finally getting up and going to get his bag to start his dreaded homework. Besides, Mycroft never said he had to do it right.
John spent the day at school trying to keep his head down and not draw attention to himself or his black eye. It was the first time in years that his dad had done something that John couldn't hide, though he had stolen make-up from Harry to try to cover it. Harry had refused to help him, saying that their father deserved to be caught and John should stop hiding it as it would be beneficial. But John disagreed. Their mother wouldn't be able to support herself, let alone the two of them, and Harry wasn't anywhere close to supporting herself either. John had no choice, they needed the man's money. So he covered it as much as he could and when asked, blamed it on Greg kicking a ball with bad aim when they stayed later than the others after their makeshift game.
It wasn't the first time Greg had gone along with such a story and John was sure it wouldn't be the last. But just like every other time, John had promised he'd tell Greg all about it later.
John had purposely ignored the anon, both because he was upset by the words and because he wasn't quite ready to even anonymously tell people that he was abused. He hated how it made him vulnerable and weak.
John was glad to finally be able to leave the school. He ignored Sally's comment on his eye, deciding it wasn't worth the argument. Sally wasn't always so bad, but she did like to be on top and show how she was above everyone, most of the time anyway. He supposed it was mostly her feminist take on things and showing she could be better than any guy. John wasn't too sure.
Finally, John made it home and was rather happy to have ditched Greg while he was at it. He had told him he'd talk to him after school, but he wasn't looking forward to it. His celebration was short-lived however as he walked into the house, and immediately saw Greg with a cup of tea, and his mum smiling at them. Greg grinned at him. "Took you long enough. I was sure you'd race here to get away. But you're slowing down mate." He said before taking a sip of his tea.
Cursing his luck, John just nodded. "Right. I'll be in my room when you're done." He muttered and turned that way, ignoring the sound of disapproval from his mum at his rude behavior. John didn't think he was being rude. Greg knew his house well enough to get around and he knew his mum well enough to not be awkward. It was just the way things were with mates. He closed the door to his room, knowing Greg wouldn't bother knocking. He set his bag next to the table, which served as a desk that he never used, and then sat on his bed with his laptop.
Greg opened the door just as John had logged into tumblr and noticed John's frown. "What is it?" He asked, moving to sit next to him. He sighed as he saw the site, but decided not to start their usual argument.
"So, that's your anon huh?" He asked, reading it and frowning a bit. "Either they're a creepy stalker that wants all of your time, or they really do care…" He said. John nodded. "I.. I mean, they're trying to make it seem like they don't but.. yeah.. it seems like they do." He said, sounding a bit in awe. Greg's mouth dropped a bit. "John. No. You don't even know them!" He said, pointing at the screen.
John shook his head and cocked his head to the side in confusion. "no, what?" He said, watching him intently now. Greg sighed. "I've seen that look. You had that look when you had your crush on Sarah." He said. "You don't even know if they're a girl or a guy, John. Not that I care, but I know you do." John ran a hand through his hair. "Look, I know. Alright? I know that I don't know a lot about this person. But they're.. I don't know.. They know me. They understand me, and they're witty and clever. And there's something about her…them." He said, correcting himself at the last moment.
Greg bit his lip to keep from saying anything. He then took a deep breath to calm himself, as if he was dealing with a small child and trying to get them to understand. "John… I know that there is a chance that this person is a lovely girl that lives somewhere reasonably close and the two of you can get married and have fifty children or whatever the hell you want, but that is a VERY small chance. You're setting yourself up here. And I don't want to see you get hurt."
They stared at each other for a moment before John finally nodded. "I know. I do know. It's just hard." He said quietly, still staring at the ask. "I guess I just want this to be real.. but Greg, I'm not going to stop talking to her…them." Greg looked like he was about to argue before rolling his eyes. "You're too stubborn for me to tell you not to. You'd just shut me out. And You've been doing enough of that already." He muttered. "Alright. Answer your princess and then we'll talk. I still want to know what happened, or at least how you're handling it. Anything."
John sighed and nodded. He answered the message quickly before he turned to Greg.
Anonymous:
I understand that you obviously didn't want to talk about it. And I apologize if I was brusque. But you really should find the decency within you to at least let people out there, who may or may not care about, know that you're alright after what happened yesterday.
bonds-companion:
I'm sorry. I wasn't aware you cared. I'm fine. I just didn't want to respond to that message, and seeing as I don't know your blog, I couldn't send you an ask instead, could I? I'm fine. It's just been a busy day.
"Well.. It happened how it always does. Harry and my dad were in the same room. Nothing else needs to be said really. Just their arguments started, where they both blame each other for their problems. Then he went to smack her and I got involved, so he punched me instead." He shrugged like it was no big deal.
Greg let out a heavy sigh. "Damn, John. You.. You really need to stop.. look I know you want to stick up for your sister but she does it all the time. She almost asks for it.. Oh come on John, don't look at me like that. I'm aware that no one ACTUALLY asks for it. But she could try, for your sake at least. She knows you get hurt every time she does something."
John didn't say anything. He looked down at a spot on his knee and shrugged. He couldn't deny the fact that he'd like it if Harry thought about him every once in a while, but he wasn't going to stop interfering. He ran a hand through his hair again. "I don't know what to say Greg. We both know nothing's going to change.. until I'm out of here. And honestly, I'm terrified of leaving. I don't want to leave my family to him, but I have no choice…" He picked at the spot on his trousers.
"You're really thinking about going to the army then?" He asked, looking up at him. John shrugged. "I don't really have another choice. I can't support myself to get through college. And ill be damned if I give up my dreams of being a doctor because of that git. And on top of it all, I need to be able to take care of my mum in the end…" He said quietly. Greg didn't know how to respond to that. "Yeah. I guess you're right. You'll do fine anyway. I don't see the army breaking John Watson." He offered a grin to which John returned a half-hearted smile.
Greg then glanced at John's blog and shook his head in defeat. "Alright John. Show me your world." He said, getting comfortable and watching John scroll first through his own blog and then through several others until Greg was laughing so hard he had tears streaming from his eyes. John felt accomplished in finally corrupting his best mate.